Positive Covid test forces Fife nursery to close

NEWBURGH: Affected child now self-isolating at home

A Fife nursery has been closed after a child tested positive for Covid-19.

The youngster who attends the nursery at Newburgh Primary School is isolating at home with other household members.

NHS Fife and the school made contact with families of all pupils likely to have come into contact with the individual at the weekend, confirming the positive test result and advising those children to go into self isolation.

One concerned parent said the news was “every parent’s worst nightmare”.

Lynn Burnett, nurse consultant in health protection, said: “We appreciate that members of the public may be concerned about any new community cases, however we want to reassure people that the risk of contracting coronavirus remains low.”

The main Newburgh Primary School will stay open.

A Fife nursery has been forced to close after a child tested positive for Covid-19 as two more schools in Dundee announced they had confirmed cases of coronavirus.

A single positive case has been linked to both SS Peter and Paul School and Happy Times out-of-school club at Downfield Primary as the number of cases connected to Kingspark reached 22.

NHS Fife confirmed that a child attending the nursery at Newburgh Primary School was now isolating at home with other household members.

The nursery has been closed, however the rest of the primary school will remain open.

Lynn Burnett, nurse consultant in health protection, said: “We appreciate that members of the public may be concerned about any new community cases, however we want to reassure people that the risk of contracting coronavirus remains low.

“NHS Fife has well-established procedures in place to trace those in close contact with the case and our public health contact tracing team is currently calling those who came into prolonged contact with the confirmed case to offer support and advice.”

One concerned mum said the news was “every parent’s worst nightmare”.

She added: “It’s a very worrying development and there’s a great level of concern as you’d expect from parents with children at the nursery.

“I have been advised that my child is to isolate for 14 days from the first day they came into contact with the confirmed case, however older siblings will still be required to attend the primary school.

“There’s a lot of confusion and anxiety among parents I’ve spoken to about the situation but we’ll follow the advice we’ve been given.”

Shelagh McLean, Fife Council’s head of education and children’s services, said: “We are following public health advice and talking with our colleagues in NHS Fife about actions required regarding Covid-19.

“With their direction, we are taking all appropriate actions, including that relating to Test and Protect and contact with any confirmed case linked to one of our schools.

“A joint letter, from us and the NHS, was issued to all parents and carers in Fife at the end of last week to keep them informed.

“We’ve also issued a comprehensive list of questions and answers to help with any questions that they may have, and reminded them of their responsibilities around quarantining at www.fife.gov. uk/schoolcovidfaqs”

NHS Tayside announced in a joint statement with Dundee City Council that 22 cases have now been linked to the Kingspark outbreak, including 17 members of staff, two pupils and three community contacts.

The school remains closed and all staff and pupils continue to self-isolate.

Parents connected with the outbreaks at the two further Dundee schools have been contacted with children told to selfisolate until September 2.

Dr Ellie Hothersall, consultant in public health medicine with NHS Tayside, said: “Since the identification of positive cases at Kingspark, a detailed contact tracing programme has been under way and these linked cases are being identified because of those concerted efforts of Test and Protect.

“We must do everything we can to protect all of our communities against Covid-19 and that is why we have issued the guidance to self-isolate.

“By taking this action we are containing any further spread of infection.We know this may cause anxiety to some parents and children but we must do everything we can to ensure we keep people safe.”

“These linked cases are being identified because of those concerted efforts of Test and Protect. DR ELLIE HOTHERSALL

Picture: Kenny Smith. Top: As children return to school, health experts have warned they will be more susceptible to common illnesses after lockdown. Above: Carrie Lindsay, the executive director of education and children’s services.